Koka features in Braga’s 5-1 loss to Benfica

Braga started the first half on the right foot, having several chances denied in the opening 15 minutes. Just two minutes into the match, Braga’s Wilson Eduardo’s header hit the post. In the fifth minute, Ahmed Hassan Koka led a counter attack but his shot from outside the box went over the bar. Just one minute later, Benfica’s Pizzi was denied by Braga’s keeper who got off his line to catch the ball.

In the 10th minute, Braga almost opened the scoring through Rafa Silva but the midfielder failed to fully capitalize on Mauro’s pass. In the 16th minute, Benfica’s Mitroglou opened the scoring after latching on a rebound to beat the keeper. The visitors did’t give up and continued attacking, but eventually lost focus and allowed Benfica to score two more goals.

In the 36th minute, Jonas successfully scored from the penalty spot and just three minutes later, Pizzi’s shot found the back of the net from the edge of the area. The first half ended with the hosts leading 3-0.

This deficit obviously affected the visitors, whose goal was threatened several times by Benfica’s forwards in the opening ten minutes. Barge’s first chance of the second half came in the 56th minute through Koka’s shot, but the Benfica’s keeper saved. Five minutes later, Koka was denied a goal by the post and no one took advantage of the rebound.

The 70th minute marked the end of Ahmed Hassan Koka’s night as he was replaced by Stojilikovic. Just one minute later, Braga conceded the fourth goal through Mitroglou and the 76th minute, Andreas Samaris sealed the deal for Benfica by adding the fifth goal.

After the fifth goal, the tempo of an exciting game went down with fewer chances being directed on goal. In stoppage time, Pedro Santos decreased the deficit when he scored a deserved goal for Braga to make the score 5-1.

After this loss, Braga remain in fourth place with 50 points, 11 points away from third place Porto. On the pother hand, Benfica remain on top of the table with 70 points. Next up, SC Braga will host Shakhtar Donetsk in the Europa League on Thursday.